Michelle Obama has made the fight against obesity her main focus as First Lady. In typical leftist fashion, she has proposed a number of government regulations that would force Americans to make healthier choices regarding nutrition and exercise.

“Let’s Move,” her program aimed at children, has attracted criticism for its embrace of big government answers in response to the issue of obesity.

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According to a recent Pew Research Poll, a clear majority of respondents feel it is not the government’s job to dictate what citizens can eat. By a 54-42 margin, those polled said that bureaucrats should not have a major influence in the fight against obesity.

Naturally, the responses varied greatly between disparate political ideologies. While 6 out of 10 Democrats think the government should be deeply involved in the eating and exercise habits of Americans, just 2 out of 10 Republicans share the sentiment.

The true story is found among independents, who decisively feel that “Let’s Move” and other such programs overstep the government’s bounds. Even more non-affiliated voters – 56 percent – are against government intervention than among the general public, the poll indicates. About 4 in 10 independents think that politicians should play a large role in determining what Americans eat.

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Opinions also break down according to the level of faith respondents have in the government. Among those who believe the public sector can provide “a lot” of help in reducing obesity, 84 percent believe it should make the effort.

Judging from the currently bloated state of Washington, D.C., and the controversy in which this administration is mired, faith in government is a luxury many cannot afford. Furthermore, those who believe in the idea of individual liberty – one of America’s founding principles – generally agree that each citizen should be allowed the freedom to choose what he or she eats.

While it is indeed positive to see reports such as this, it is unfortunate that such debates are even necessary. If our government were truly bound by the restrictions placed upon it by the U.S. Constitution, there would be no opportunity to interfere in the nutritional habits of its constituents.

As the federal bureaucracy continues to amass more control over Americans’ health care, however, government intrusion will only become more pronounced and less constitutional.